Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes



I BELIEVE IN DREAMS.

Not everyone does, you know.  Some people ignore their dreams.  Others can't recall their dreams and so claim not to have them at all.  Still others are embarrassed by these secret wishes that their heart makes while they are fast asleep.  But I have always put a lot of stock in dreams, and as a result I've gleaned a lot of wisdom from them.

Just this week, I had a recurring dream that I've had at least 5-6 times before.  In the dream, I am returning to my high school to clean out my locker.  I am either my current age or have just graduated.  I feel an urgent need to remove the contents of my locker, to clean it out before I have to leave school behind, BUT I can never remember the combination.  

During the dream, I struggle to unlock my locker as time speeds away from me.  The interesting thing is that the combination is always the same, but in my dream state I struggle to recall the correct numbers to unlock my locker every time.

On Monday morning, I was working out while pondering this particular dream, as I had just awoken from it.  And as I pondered, I finally realized the meaning that the dream held for me.

The act of unlocking the locker to clean it out and remove its contents is symbolic of unlocking the past, forgiving, and letting go of tiny remnants of feelings that I no longer need to hold onto or store within myself.

I had recently expressed to Steve that this was something that I really wanted to make a concerted effort to do.  He suggested that I just make a list and privately, with the Lord, go through each item and let it go...one by one.

Now describing how to let go of the past or how to forgive is very personal.  (I'm guessing for most of us it is easier to push unpleasant feelings to the back of our minds than to do the heavy-lifting required to actually fully forgive.)  It's just about as difficult as describing a dream to another person.  You just almost have to experience it for yourself to know truly how it feels, to identify the spiritual muscles that must be activated, in order to bring it about.

As I thought about this, I thought about how in the dream the combination for the lock is ALWAYS the same...nevertheless, I always struggle to recall the numbers that will set the contents of my locker free.

As I type this I know that the tried and true combination is simple and accessible to everyone, and at its center is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Now to see if I will have the discipline to flex the appropriate spiritual and emotional muscles to fulfill the wish that my heart has made! Wish me luck!

8 comments:

  1. Well written and very well expressed. Forgiveness is hard especially when feeling wronged, cheated, or embarrassed.

    Best to you as your begin your journey in to lightening your spirit.

    I didn't use my locker in high school except for one day - the first day of my sophomore year and then never again. I just carried it around with me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SO good!! Something we all need to hear once in a while! Oh how hard some things are to let go!! Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Forgiving is hard, but it's definitely worth it. I've seen so many people twist their lives into terrible shapes because they wouldn't forgive someone over something. A lack of forgiveness is always a tragedy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I learned this lesson the hard way, but what an important lesson to learn. One I am so thankful for.

    I too believe in dreams. When a dream comes back more than once, maybe it has some wisdom we need to unlock and learn.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've never thought about forgiving that way. I guess I just thought that the best option was to push negative feelings away, rather than do the "heavy lifting," as you suggested. Thanks for that great insight!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great dream and analysis.

    I always pay attention to my dreams. They help my spirit remind me of things my worldly self is forgetting. And when I'm not wanting to face something in my life, they get me started by doing it for me.

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow. You said that PERFECTLY. I have a similar recurring dream but I always attributed it to back to school anxiety, even though I haven't been in school for a while, especially a school with lockers. I like your interpretation and explanation, though... maybe I'll start calling you Joseph ;)

    ReplyDelete